§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Clerks of the Peace in Ireland are entitled to anything beyond actual expenses in respect of the registration of voters; whether they can claim anything for their own time or that of their ordinary staff; whether they have to pay for the printing; whether it is a fact that application has been made by them to the Privy Council in Ireland to have a scale fixed of so much per name on the lists; and, whether it is proposed that if the actual extra expense is less than the amount the scale would allow the Clerks of the Peace are to keep the profit, or that the scale shall fix a maximum of charge?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)With respect to the inquiries in the first two paragraphs, I understand that the Judges have recently, upon a case stated from Assizes, decided, in effect, that the Clerks of the Peace are entitled to the repayment of actual expenses only. Clerks of the Peace are not obliged to pay for the printing. These officers have applied to the Privy Council to have a new scale fixed. As to the last paragraph of the Question, I am unable to say what decision may be come to by the Privy Council in the matter.